Born in Blood



The professor had long, raven-black hair that fell past her neck and ocean-blue eyes which looked deeply knowledgeable. 

Her silky white robe embroidered with intricate golden lines gave her a scholarly air, which paired well with her powerful aura.

"I am Veila Rei, your cultivation professor," she smiled, displaying her bright white teeth. "Treat me well, and I'll do the same for you."

Instantly, she was a sight for sore eyes. At least, noble ones. Sveinn looked entranced, Rin looked distant as ever, Nord let out a quiet scoff, Nessa smiled and Liam was expressionless.

"This class won't be as boring as one would imagine," Veila paced around the lecture hall. "We'll be discussing the centers of power, Zenith and Celestial Ranks, as well as their tribulations and abilities."

Instantly, Liam was interested. 

So was everyone else, for that matter.

Veila smiled seeing the interested looks from her students, then continued.

"For one, mental energy isn't as simple as you might think, and neither is the sea of consciousness."

Veila's mental waves spread across the space.

Liam suddenly felt something click in his sea of consciousness.

[I bet none of you knew transmitting your voice mentally was possible.] Veila's voice rang out in everyone's mental spheres, but her smiling lips didn't move. [This is just one of the few skills that you'll be able to learn.]

Liam's eye widened in fascination, but his lips curved upwards to form a smile.

The other students looked amazed as well, but a few looked like they knew about that ability.

"You'll learn much about your future journey through this course," said Veila. 

"Let's begin with what a Tribulation is, first. Obviously, you all know the Opposition, the governing force. This force acts as a direct counterpart to your journey for strength. We'll go more in depth on that topic later."

"When entering the fourth Rank of any center of power, that's when you'll undergo a difficult test, determining whether or not you advance."

Liam knew that tidbit of information from the Yin & Yang Sisters, but they hadn't been kind enough to explain what it was.

"We'll begin with the Struggle Tribulation, which is also called the Bodily Test. This is when you've already cultivated a Rank 4 body tempering method and just about to break through… only, that's when the Tribulation will begin."

"The reason it's called a 'struggle', is because everything in your body is going to shut down, and you'll struggle for life."

"Your heart, your lungs, your ears, your eyes, your taste, all of your senses and bodily functions will die. Not to mention, all of this… hurts. the amount of people that died during this test is uncountable."

Liam's eye narrowed, but he supposed there was a catch that made gaining such a powerful body somewhat fair.

The surrounding students looked even more worried and anxious, while some had gone pale.

"But!" Veila exclaimed. "Your mind and core will still function, and the Tribulation is not that long. The way to advance is simple – a dense, purifying 'Ora' will start to grow on your body, starting with the internal organs, then moving to bones, flesh and skin. You are required to equally spread this essence across your being, slowly regaining your bodily functions."

"Once that essence is fully expended, you will officially enter the fourth Rank for the body. Is that understandable?"

The class nodded in unison, but their worry couldn't be hidden. 

"Moving on, there is the Self Tribulation for the sea of consciousness," Veila revealed. "This one is unique… in the sense that every Tribulation depends entirely on the individual."

"Our knowledge on this test is somewhat limited, since the mental sphere is the hardest center of power to progress through, which not too many cultivators reach in their lifetime."

"All we know is, once it begins, you will enter a dream-like state. You won't be able to wake up until the Tribulation is completed."

"When undergoing this test, it's recommended you do it in a safe place where no beast or man can kill you, because they could even span months."

"Also, if you fail… your sea of consciousness will shatter instantly, leaving you with a mindless body without thought."

That made some draw in a cold breath, sweat trickling down their foreheads.

Liam frowned. 

'Damn it. I really hoped there was some useful knowledge regarding that test. I still have to uphold my end of the bargain with the Kitsune.'

"Don't worry, though. Becoming a Rank 3 Magus will no doubt equip you with the necessary capabilities and mental prowess to survive that Tribulation. It wouldn't be fair, otherwise," Veila reassured, noticing the grimaces and worried scowls. "There are many, many years left until you get to that point."

That realization made Liam relax a bit. It was a problem for another day.

"The last Tribulation is called the Defence Tribulation, and it's probably the easiest of the bunch… depending on how you look at it. Depending on what element you are, you'll have to defend powerful attacks from said element."

"These 'attacks' are very, very powerful. And destructive – even Rank 4 bodies are not enough to block their might. You may die, even with a Zenith body."

…That made Liam raise his brows. 

"They are aimed at your core, intent on destroying it. For example, if you were of the fire element, a giant mass of flames would appear out of nowhere and assault you. The same with wind, earth, water, darkness and light."

"You can minimize the damage if you're in protected areas, but you're bound to suffer some sort of damage or attack."

"Another thing I want to add is what happens once you go up the ranks, techniques and spells will undoubtedly lessen in availability. Especially those attuned with your own element. That's why it's important to pick up on an inscription or forging method to eventually make your own."

Liam realized his problem applied to everyone else as well. 

'Maybe I can get some advantage if I start early. That way, I could find some ways to utilize my chaos.'

Veila took a moment to let everyone absorb her words, before nodding to herself.

"That's it for today's class. I'll prescribe some books for you guys to study in the meantime."

"Dismissed."